Regularity of blood transfusion influences the severity of systemic iron burden, cognitive decline, and gut dysbiosis in thalassemia patients

These findings suggest that the severity of systemic iron burden, based on the regularity of blood transfusion, impacts on the magnitude of cognitive decline and gut dysbiosis in thalassemia patients. It is possible that systemic iron potentially serves as a dose-dependent factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration through gut dysbiosis. Therefore, therapeutic approaches via well-control of systemic iron levels and balanced gut microbiota could prevent early-onset cognitive decline in thalassemia patients.